Hat-pressing machine



(No Model.) 4"SheetsShe et 1.

W. J. EGAN & A. SLOG'UIVL- HAT PRESSING MACHINE,

No. 540,426. Patented June .4, 1895.

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W. J. EGAN & A. SLOOUM. HAT PRESSING MACHINE.

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HAT PRESSING MACHINE Patented Jung 4, 1895.

(No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. W. J. EGAN & A. SLOGUM.

HAT PRESSING MAGHLNE No. 540,426. 1 mma June 4, 189 5.

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.UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. EGAN AND ALBERT SLOOUM, on MILWA KEE, WIsoonsIN.

HAT-PRESSING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,426, dated June 4-,1895.

Application filed June 18, 1894:. Serial No. 514,869. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J EGAN and ALBERT SLOOUM, citizens of theUnited States, and residents of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee,and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hat-Pressing Machines; and we do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to machines for pressing hats, especially thosemade from straw and analogous material, and consists in certainpeculiarities of construction and combination of parts, all as will befully set forth hereinafter and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying ourpresent invention, partially broken away and partly in central verticalsection to better illustrate details of construction. Fig. 2 is aplanview of the dome of the machine, partially broken away to illustrate thearrangement of the flexible diaphragm beneath. Fig. 3is a horizontalsectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5, looking up. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5, looking down. Fig.5 is a side elevation of said device, partially broken away and partlyin section, on the line 5 50f Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional Viewon the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7

is a like view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Fig.

8 is a detail of the platform and water'cylinder. Fig.9 is a detailhorizontal sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is acentral vertical sectional view of the die-seat holder andlieat-shieldanddie-seat; taken on a line at right angles to the sectionline showing said parts in Fig. 1.

. Our device is designed to press straw hats into shape, being the finalmechanical operation upon untrimmed hats, after sewing, sizing, andblocking, and completes the hat, with the exception of such grades ofhats as require trimming, such as the sweat-leathers, linings, andoutside trimmings, and it relates to that class of hat-pressing machinesin which the hat previously formed to nearly the right shape by sewingand blocking is placed in a hollow or female die of the proper form, andsubjected to a powerful hydraulic pressure transmitted through aflexible diaphragm are put together, as best shown in Fig. 1.

formed of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material.

Referring to the drawings, A-represents a suitable platform, from whichrises a hollow standard or box-base B, preferably cast integrally withsaid platform,there beinglaterally-projecting lugs or wings O 0extending fron1 the box-base B toward the corners of the platform, asshown, said wings being vertically hollow, at their outer portions, toreceive the bolts D D which pass through said'hollow wings, and throughthe hollow columns E E which rest on said wings, said bolt-s alsopassing through vertically hollow lugs F F projecting from the sides ofthe dome G, and thesebolts DD being screw-threaded at both ends andfitted with nuts, a a, when the parts On the under side of said dome isan open or annular clamping plate 1), between which and thecorresponding bottom edge of said dome is held the edge of the describedflexible diaphragm H, the said dome and plate being united by a seriesof studs 0 c c. The flexible diaphragm H (called in the trade a hat-bag)is formed with a central depression'h of the general shape of ahat-crown, and by reason of the flexibility of the material of which itis formed this general shape is readily extended by the hydraulicpressure of water introduced into the dome through the pipe at toclosely conform to the shape of the face of the particular die employedwhen the device is in use.

The top of the described hollow standard or box-base B is cast solidlywith its walls provided with a series of perforations e e e arrangedadjacent to its periphery, and with a. central perforation f. Restingupon this described base top is an oscillating locking plate I having adownward projecting centering hub z, fitting within the said hole j, anda central perforation g, and a series of peripheral perforations 'i 2'i, which at certain times register with the described openings 6 e e, asshown in Fig. 1, while at other times they do not, when the device is inthe locked position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The upper surface of thislocking-plate I is preferably provided with an annular flange J, formingwith the corresponding annular recessj in the under side of thedie-seat-holder K, an air-cushion, as hereinafter more particularlydescribed. The said die-seat-holder K is further provided on its underside with a series of sockets 7c 71; having interior screw-threads,within which are screwed the upper ends of legs L L L adapted to passdown through the described series of holes-21, e, in the locking-plate Iand top of the box-base B when the parts are in the position shown inFig. 1, and to rest upon the top of said locking-plate, when the latterhas been turned, as hereinafter described, and the parts are in theposition best shown in Fig. 5.

The bottom of the box-base B is provided with an oblong opening on, toenable the similarly shaped lateral extensions or arms 72/77, on thewater-cylinder M to be passed up through, and then be turned onequarteraround, and secured, as by bolts or studs 0 0 as shown in Fig. 1. Thiscylinder is provided with a central bore, divided near its upper end bymeans of an inner annular flange 13, into a lower water-chamber, q, andan upper shorter chamber rfilled with a suitable packing (preferablyfibrous) forming a stnflingbox, whose upper end receives a gland 8,secured in place by bolts or studs 25 t whose screwthreaded lower endspass down into suitable screw-threaded sockets in the top of thewatercylinder M, as shown in Fig. 1, and the bottom of this cylinder isfurther provided with a water-pipe u.

N is a plunger, in the form of a long cylim drical rod (which may, forconvenience, be made in sections, as indicated by the line 2:, justabove the gland in Fig. 1) and the upper end of this plunger ispreferably reduced in diameter, and inserted within a central opening toin the described die-seat-holder K, be ing secured therein by anysuitable means, such as the pin 00, the said plunger N passing throughthe described central perforation g in the hub z and locking-plate I,all as best shown in Fig. 1.

The locking-plate I is formed with an annular rabbet or shoulder g onits peripheral edge, and a similarly (but inversely) shouldered ring asurrounds the same, and is secured to the top of the box-base B, as bycapscrews (1 a, and the said locking-plate, at its periphery, is cut out(that is the lower projecting shoulder 3 is removed) for about onesixthof its circumference, as shown at b in Fig. 4, and a horizontal squareopening is cut through the ring a, and into the top of the base-box B,and a key or stop 0 is fitted in said opening and preferably secured bythe passage therethrough of one of the described capserews a, as bestshown in Figs. 4 and 5. -Proj ecting outwardly from the described ring aare two bracket arms 0 0' cast therewith,

and perforated near their ends to receive a short shaft 61 on which aremounted two chain sheaves e f having long inwardly projecting hubs, sothat each sheave will run close to its adjacent bracket arm, in linewith the chaingroove g in the annular flange Jon the locking-plate I. Pis a chain, in said groove, and rigidly fastened, as bya stud or studs71., and beyond the fastening point, on one side, the said chain P runsover the sheave e and connects with a stout spiral spring Q, which inturn is secured as by a screw-eye i to the platform A, while beyond thefastening point, on the other side of said annular flanged, the chain Pruns over the other sheave f, and down to a treadle R, next described.The treadle is yoke-shaped and secured by trunnions j j, to the platformA, and the said treadle has a foot-plate S, located adjacent to the lineof the sheavef.

The die-seat-holderK is formed with an upward extending flange 70'forming a heat-retainingjacket, and heat-shield, within which is locatedthe die-seat proper, marked T, of the shape in section best shown inFig. 1, there being a steam space m within said dieseat, andcommunicating steam-pipes n at leading thereto from an outside source ofsteam-supply, not shown, and there being a large annular air-space mentirely surrounding the die-seat T, between its outer wall, and theflange 70' of the die seat holder K,through which air-space thedescribed steam inlet and outlet pipes n n extend, the inner ends ofsaid pipes being inserted in transverse bores formed in said outer wallof the die-seat and communicating with said steam space, as stated, andshown in Fig. 1. Above thisdieseat is shown a removable bushing or falseseat 0' which can be taken out, or changed, to suit different sizes ofdies, and above this is seen the die U, formed of east zinc, with arecess V of the required shape to receive the hat (W) to be pressed,said recess beinga little larger than the central depression 71. of theflexible diaphragm II. From the flange or jacket 70 ot' thedie-seat-holder K there project lugs 1) formed with vertical bores qtherethrough.

X X represent guide shoes, having external concavities to receive andfit against the described columns E E and also provided with recesses Yin their shanks to receive the described lugs 13', and when the partsare put together, bolts Z of a less diameter than that of the bore q inthe said lugs 19 are inserted through openings in the shanks of the saidguide-shoes X and through said bores q, and when the proper adjustmenthas been made, the nuts on said bolts Z are tightened, and therefore thegnide-shoes will be kept exactly in proper position during the operationof the device.

The upper opening through the shanks of the guide-shoes X for the boltsZ is smooth bored, butthe lower openingis screw-threaded and the lowerpart of the bolt is screw-thread ed to fit the same, as shown at u inFig. 7, besides which both ends of the boltsZ are screwthreaded, so thatthere are nuts 25 Z at both ends of said bolts, above and below theshanks of the guide-shoes X, as also shown in said Fig. 7.

The framework of this device is very strongly and accurately puttogether,'as is es-' sential on account of the tremendous strain towhich the device is subjected in operation andthe necessity for perfectalignment. The projecting lugs or wings C C are counter-bored on top, asshown at r, and the bottom of the columns E E which rest thereon areformed with corresponding downward projections s, accurately turned tofit the said counter-bores r, all as shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, asshown in Fig. 6, the upper ends of these columns E are provided withprojections 10 accurately turned to fit counter-bores w in the lugs F ofthe dome G, and the heads E of these columns I E (which are of increaseddiameter over that of the columns below to insure greater rigidity andhence more perfect alignment) are cut out, on their inner sides, asshown best at 00' in Fig. 6, to receive the described annularclamping-plate b, which plate (as shown by the dotted lines y in Fig. 2and full lines y in Figs. 6 and 9) is itself cutout, in order that saidplate I) may clear thecolumns E when it is lowered withthe-die-seat-holder K k, as hereinafterdescribed. ThecolumnsE, belowtheir heads, and above their bases, are preferably of less diameter thanat the latter points, to effect a saving of material and secureincreased space .for the vertically movable parts between said columns.

The operation of this device will be readily understood from theforegoing description of its construction, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. In starting the machine, the parts are in thepositions shown in Fig. 1. A hat (W) is placed within the recess V ofthe die U, steam having previously been admitted to the space m withinthe die-seat T through the pipes n until the die is heated to about 300Fahrenheit. Next, water, at a pressure of about six hundred pounds tothe square inch is admitted through pipe u to the water-chamber q in thewater-cylinder M (said pipe 1/. being shown as entering through thebottom'of said cylinder M, but its exact point of entrance beingimmaterial so long as it directly communicates with said chamber g),which forces up the plunger N, raising with it the die-seat-holder K,and contents and attachments, up to a position high enough to enable thelegs L L-L to clear the top of the locking-plate I. When this is done,the spring Q retracts,-th ereby drawing 011 the chain P over the sheavee and turning the locking-plate I, so that it assumes the relativeposition with respect to the boxbase B shown in Figs.4and 5, andpreventing, thereby, the return of the legs to their former.position,when pressure from the dome is applied, as hereinafterexplained. Next, water, at the necessary pressure suitable to thenatureof the goods to be pressed, is introduced into the dome G, through thepipe d (which absolutely to the shape of the die.

pressuremay be all the way from one pound to two thousand pounds to thesquare inch) which expands the flexible diaphragm H against the hat W,dilating the depression h and filling it out within the hat-crown, as.shown in Fig. 5, thereby pressing said hat When this is done, the wateris exhausted (by means of an ordinary exhaust valve,not shown, on thepipe (1) from the dome G, and as the pressure is released from above thedie, and still retained within the water-cylinder M, the latter pressureserves to raise the legs L L L sufficiently above the locking-plate I tofree the latter from contact therewith, and then the operator places hisfoot upon the foot-plate S of the treadle R, and this draws on the chainP over sheave'f and turns the locking-plate I, thereby causing the holest'in said plate to register once more with the holes e in the top of thebox-base B, in line with legs L L L, and then the water within cylinderM is exhausted (by any approved form of exhaust valve, not shown, in thepipe u) and this permits the descent of the plunger N, and againdepresses the legs L L L, through the described holes, back to theposition shown in Fig. 1,'when the hat just pressed can be removed, andanother hat put in its place.

Whenever it is necessary to remove the flexible diaphragm H, for repair,or replacement, or for any other reason, the die-seatholder K k iselevated to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the nuts on the lowerscrewthreaded ends of the studs 0 c c are removed (leaving the studsproper projecting down from the dome G) and then the annular clamp ingplate 1) will drop down and rest on the top edge of the flange is of thedie-seat-h'older K. Then the water is let out of the cylinder M, and thelocking-plate operated by the treadle, all as before described, and thislowers the dieseat-holder and the plate I) carried thereby, when theflexible diaphragm H can be readily removed and replaced, and then bythe reintroduction of water, under pressure, into the cylinder M thedie-seat-holder is againraised, carrying the plate I) with it back toits former position, when the nuts can be quickly screwed onto the. endsof the studs 0 c c, and the device is once more ready for operation.

Should the legs LL L ever become broken or injured, the injured membercan be readily removed from its socket is, and replaced by a perfectleg, without detriment to the rest of the device. 7

In order to obviate friction in the oscillation of thelocking-plate I,itis necessary that said plate should have the described center- IICin'g hubz', as otherwise it would be practiprojecting annular flange J,and the corresponding annular recess j in the under side of thedie-seat-holder K, an air'cushion is formed when the two parts cometogether, which is of great value and importance, as it breaks themomentum obtained by the dieseat-holder and contents in its rapiddescent to an open position, and by reason of the construction of theflange It on said die-seatholder K not only does the same serve as aheat-retaining jacket and prevent the radiation of heat from thedie-seat T in an obvious manner, but it also forms a heat-shield, andenables the operator to work with comfort, despite the high degree oftemperature to which said die-seat is necessarily raised during theoperation of pressing the hats, and this we regard as one of the mostvaluable features of our present invention, as by its use and theconsequent air-space m thereby formed, an operator can remain at hiswork the entire day unaifected by the intense heat of the die, whichlatter is further economically kept at the proper heat without loss byradiation, as would otherwise occur.

Although especially designed for straw-hats our machine is equally welladapted for pressing hats of felt, or other material.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination with a hollow base orstandard, having a top provided with a central perforation and a seriesof perforations adjacent to its periphery, of vertical guides supportingan expansible fluid chamber, another fluid chamber connected to saidbase, a vertically movable plunger communicating with said last namedchamber, a die-seat and holder supported on said plunger, an oscillatinglocking plate resting on said base top, and provided with a series ofperforations adapted to register with those in said base-top, a springconnected to said locking-plate for moving the latter and therebythrowing the perforations therein out of line with those below and aseries of legs depending from said die-seat-holder in -line with theperforations in the base-top.

2. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination with a hollow base orstandard, havinga top provided with a central perforation and a.surrounding series of perforations, of vertical guides supporting anexpansible fluid cham ber, another fluid chamber connected to said base,a vertically movable plunger communieating with said last named chamberand carrying a die-seat-holder on its upper end, guideshoes on saiddie-seat-holder in engagement with said vertical guides, an oscillatinglocking plate resting on said base-top and having a hub fitting withinthe central perforation in the latter and provided with a centralvertical perforation, and a surrounding series of perforations adaptedto register with those in said base top, a series of legs depending fromsaid die-seat-holder in line with the perforations in the base-top, aretracting spring connected to said locking-plate for moving the latterand thereby throwing the perforations therein out of line with those inthe base-top below, and a treadle pivoted to said base or standard andflexibly connected to said locking plate for oscillating the latter inopposi' tion to the movement caused by said spring, and bringing theperforations in said lockingplate in line with the perforations in thebase top below and the legs above.

3. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination with a hollow base orstandard, having a top provided with a central perforation and asurrounding series of perforations, of a circular oscillatinglocking-plate resting on said base-top, and having a hub fitting withinthe central perforation in thelatter, and provided with a centralvertical perforation and a surrounding series of perforations adapted toregister with those in said base-top, said looking plate being formedwith an annular peripheral rabbet or shoulder, cut away or removedbetween certain points of said periphery, an inversely shouldered ringsurrounding the said locking plate and secured to the base-top, a key orstop projecting horizontally into the base-top and through the saidring, and located between the walls of the cutaway portion of thelocking-plate periphery, a fluid operated plunger passing through saidbase-top and said locking plate, a die-seatholder supported on andsecured to said plunger and having depending legs in line with theperforations in said base-top, and means for moving said oscillatinglockingplate in either direction, as required.

4. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination with a suitable base orstandard, of guidecolulnns rising therefrom, a fluid-receiving domesecured to and supported upon said columns, the base of said dome beingformed of an expansible flexible diaphragm, and an open or annularclamping plate detachably secured to said dome beneath said diaphragmand having its periphery notched to fit against said guide-columns, andform a clearance therefor, in the downward movement of said clampingplate when detached.

5. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination with a suitable platform,of a box-base or hollow standard rising therefrom, and provided withhollow wings, counterbored at their tops, hollow guide-columns, restingon said wings and provided with central downward projections fittingwithin the said counterbores therein, and said columns having centralupward projections at their tops, a dome provided with laterallyprojecting and vertically hollow lugs, said lugs resting on the saidcolumns and being centrally counterbored to receive the described upwardprojections thereon, vertical bolts passing through said hollow lugs,columns and wings, and being screw-threaded at each end, and fasteningnuts upon both ends of said bolts.

6. In a hat-pressing machine, the combination with a die-seat-holderhaving a vertical upward extending outer flange, of a die-seat supportedWithin said holder, the upper portions of said die-seat and said flangebeing in contact, with an interposed air-space below saidline ofcontact, and said die-seat being formed with an internal steam-spacewholly independent of said air-space, and steam-supply pipes passingthrough said flange and communicating with said steam-space, whereby thesaid flange subserves the double purpose of a heatretaining jacket and aheat-shield.'

7. In ahat-pressing machine, the combination with a suitable platformand base, of

guide-columns rising therefrom, a fluid-cylinder connected with saidbase, and a fluidirnpclled vertically-moving plunger communicating withsaid cylinder, a die-seat-holder supported on and secured to the upperend of said plunger, lugs projecting from said dieseat-holder formedwith horizontally-elongated vertical bores therethrough, guide-shoeshaving external concavities to receive and fit against the saidguide-columns, and provided with recesses in their shanks to adjustabiyreceive the said lugs, securing-bolts passing through'bores in the saidshanks and lugs, and tightening-nuts on the ends of the said bolts. i

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands,at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in thepresence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. EGAN. ALBERT SLOOUM. Witnesses:

H. G.-UNDERW00D, N. E. OLIPHANT.

